Texans' John Metchie III on NFL debut: 'Amazing feeling'

HOUSTON -- It had been 652 days since Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III played in a game that counted.

Metchie made his NFL debut against the Indianapolis Colts as the Texans (0-2) lost 31-20 on Sunday. He returned to the field after dealing with a torn ACL in 2021 and being diagnosed with leukemia in July 2022, which caused him to miss all of his rookie season.

The 2022 second-round pick out of Alabama finished with one catch for 17 yards, but the stat line was the least of his concerns as he appreciated the moment of returning to the field.

"It was an amazing feeling," Metchie told ESPN. "Something I thought about every day in the hospital, so it was great to be out there playing…